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Winners revealed at the 2017 Leamington Business Awards

November 24, 2017

The winners of this year’s Leamington Business Awards were revealed at a glittering ceremony on Friday 10th November at the Royal Pump Rooms. The event, sponsored by The Box Factory, celebrated some Leamington’s best business success stories, while raising over £5,000 for local charity, Helping Hands.

Local independent business, Bellagio Stone, was crowned Business of the Year, following strong performances in a number of categories across the awards. Judge, Jonathan Smith, said the independent company had shown strong customer service and a positive commitment to staff training and development, as well as solid growth over a number of years.

The black-tie ceremony, organised by chartered accountants and business advisers, Harrison Beale & Owen (HB&O), was presided over by Master of Ceremonies, Dave Sharpe, and featured a three-course dinner and drinks, with entertainment and a charity raffle, as well as the awards presentation.

Mark Ashfield, Managing Director of HB&O said: “The Leamington Business Awards has a long tradition of supporting local charities. We were delighted to be able to present Lianne Kirkman from Helping Hands with a cheque for £5056.80 thanks to the support of all those who attended the event, as well as our many sponsors and supporters, who gave time and funds to help ensure the awards was a success.”

It was a great night for Helping Hands as the charity also won the Not for Profit Excellence Award, and walked away from the event with the promise of an oven, donated by Aubrey Allen, following a plea made at the start of the evening.

Lianne Kirkman, CEO of Helping Hands, said: “I’m overwhelmed with the support we have had from the Leamington Business Awards. The night was particularly special because one of our guests was someone who had been unemployed and living in a garage before Helping Hands provided support – he is now kitchen manager at Coffee Architects and living in a house with a great future ahead of him. Our work is only possible thanks to the donations and support we receive, and the Leamington Business Awards has given us a great boost.”

Local pub restaurant, The Drawing Room, scooped the New business of the Year Award while The Leamington Wine Group secured the top spot in the most hotly contested category – Independent Business of the Year.

Customer Service Excellence, which included a mystery shopping exercise by Shopper Anonymous to aid the judging, was won by Heart of England Cooperative Funeral Care, while the Outstanding Achievement award was won by the Warwickshire Crisis Outreach Service Team.

The Leamington Business Awards were judged by an independent panel of experts, featuring Sarah Tremellen, Founder of Bravissimo; David Hanson, Chief Executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, Jonathan Smith: Founder of the Leamington Business Forum; and Roger Scott, Area Director, SME banking, Lloyds Bank.

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors and local organisations who donated funds, supplies and skills to ensure the continued success of the Leamington Business Awards.

Leamington Business Awards 2017 Winners in full:

Employer of the year, sponsored by Wright Hassall

Winner: Aubrey Allen

Customer service excellence, sponsored by BID Leamington

Winner: Heart of England Cooperative Funeral Care

Highly commended: Aubrey Allen

Innovation of the year, sponsored by Warwickshire College Group

Winner: Labyrinth Logistics Consulting Ltd

Not for profit excellence award, sponsored by Aubrey Allen

Winner: Helping Hands

Highly commended: Motionhouse

Business and the community, sponsored by Trelawny SPT

Winner: Stacey Calder

Highly commended: Coffee Architects

Outstanding achievement, sponsored by Lodders Solicitors

Winner: Warwickshire Crisis Outreach Service Team

New business of the year, sponsored by Bravissimo

Winner: The Drawing Board

Highly commended: Swirls

Independent business of the year, sponsored by The Royal Priors

Winner: Leamington Wine Company

Highly commended: Bellagio Stone

Young Business Person of the Year, sponsored by IAPS

Winner: Kent Packman, Magik Arts

Business of the Year (Judges’ Choice Award), sponsored by The Box Factory